Latest News

RYAN WOLSTAT, QMI Agency

TORONTO - Toronto FC hung around on the road with the New York Red Bulls for a third of Wednesday’s game.

Unfortunately for the Reds, New York made them look silly the rest of the time on the way to a 5-0 thrashing.

A lineup yet again decimated by injuries showed well early, but fell apart in one crushing five-minute stretch, allowing the Red Bulls to take full control of the game.

New York, now 6-3-10 and the best offensive squad in Major League Soccer, was allowed to roam far too freely and former French international superstar Thierry Henry, in particular, toyed with the visitors.

Minus defensive stalwarts Adrian Cann (done for season) and Nana Attakora (return date unknown), the Reds looked poor at the back. Dan Gargan and some of his mates failed to keep a close enough eye on Henry, Luke Rodgers and Joel Lindpere.

While forward Alan Gordon and midfielder Jacob Peterson were able to return to the bench, midfielder Julian de Guzman — so good in Saturday’s win over Vancouver — and captain Maicon Santos were unable to play and they were missed as TFC dropped to 3-8-9.

Meanwhile, New York got Henry and Rodgers back after they missed a weekend draw and they were two of the best players on the pitch.

Toronto, confident thanks to two wins over Vancouver last week, actually played New York about even for parts of the first half.

Joao Plata gave Tim Ream and the Red Bulls all kinds of trouble, coming close on one chance early that resulted in a corner kick and nearly getting in alone on Greg Sutton before being ruled offside.

Plata was frustrating New York, but there was little other offence for the Reds who kept the shots on goal close in the half, with just one less than New York.

The game changed on a brilliant flick from Lindpere to an unmarked Henry, who had all kinds of time and made no mistake in putting his league-best ninth goal past Stefan Frei.

After TFC continued to look suspect defensively, allowing the Red Bulls far too much room, New York struck again on a spectacular strike from Rodgers in the 38th minute.

Henry and Rodgers have combined for 15 goals this season while the Reds have scored 17 total.

A third goal of the half was waved off after the officials ruled Stefan Frei was interfered with off a Lindpere free kick and New York went into the break with 68% of possession, including about 90% in the final 10 minutes of that half.

Javier Martina nearly got TFC on the board in the 53rd minute, ringing a shot off of the post, but New York came back the other way and a wide-open Lindpere scored a goal that was not called back.

Juan Agudelo headed in a Lindpere corner in the 68th minute to add insult to injury then scored another in the 90th minute.

When TFC blows up, it blows up good. Of its eight losses, four have been by at least three goals, while only two have been by a single goal.

TFC, still winless this season on the road, will have 11 days to get its infirmary cleared out following Saturday’s game in Houston.